Slab



F. M. VENZIE SLAB Filed Dec. 5, 1951 April 27, 193 7.

/J/NEY.

Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE SLAB ApplicationDecember 5, 1931, Serial No. 579,327

7 Claims.

"This invention, generally stated, relates to a building constructionand has more especial relation to ceiling, wall, or partition slabs andthe method ofrmaking same. Y

As atl present formed ceiling, wall, and partition slabs, possessed ofso-called sound Vabsorption Y properties,` are not efficient inpractical building operations. Itwould seem that to provide aself-sustaining slab, as employed in connection with conventionalsustaining clips, is not eiiicient for the purposes desired for thereason that as at present manufactured these slabs are of Vsuch solidconstruction that the sound absorbig properties are reduced to aminimum.

I have'discovered that if a ceiling, wall, or partition slab'isconstructed having efficient sound absorption properties theslab is sofriable as to* be not self-sustaining; and that in order to provideeicient sound absorption properties it is necessary thatthe slab beconned in a rigid brace.

Heretofore it has not been possible to suspend `from plastererschannelsA ceiling, wall, or partition slabs of efficient soundabsorption properties.

The leading object of the present invention may be said toreside in theprovision of a ceiling, wall, or partition pre-castslab possessed ofmaximum sound absorption properties which slab is so porous and providedwith interstices as to be incapable of self-support; thereby requiringan exterior brace, and the provision of such brace.

A further object of the invention isY to provide a building constructionin which a slab of the character above described may be supported byplasterers channels.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a slab ofthe character stated which may be'manufactured at a central plant andshipped for erection by unskilled labor at a given point.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a slab ofthe character stated which may be manufactured at a central plant invarious sizes and shapes to meet conditions at a place of erection;which may be positioned with vrespect to plasterers channels byunskilled labor expeditiously; by the use of which an appearance may beobtained of a plastered Wall, or of Travartine stone, or similarornamental nishes; and which yet will be possessed of sound absorptionqualities.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a slab of thecharacter stated in which is employed diatomaceous earth, powderedasbestos, calcium sulphate, and powdered glue, diluted with water.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a slab ofthe character stated composed of chloride of calcium, magnesite, cork,and wood fibre, as granulated wood.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a slab ofthe character stated in which the face of the slab is covered by a thin,brous material and painted to match corresponding surfaces of thestructure being erected.

Other and further objects of the present invention reside in theprovision of general details of construction and in the arrangement,connection, and combination of parts for attaining the results sought bythe foregoing objects.

'Ihe invention consists of the novel construction hereinafter describedand finally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will bemore fully understood from the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan of the frame or reenforcement for a slab;

Fig. 2 is a View in cross-section taken upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section of the slab embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of one edge of acompleted slab;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View in section, illustrating the manner ofsuspending the slab from plasterers channels in accordance with thepresent invention; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view in vertical section of the joint between theinternal re-enforcement and the marginal support.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in theaccompanying drawing the form thereof which is at present preferred byme, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to b e understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as hereinshown and described.

According to the present invention I make use of pre-cast slabs forceiling, wall, and partition constructions which are relatively porousand contain interstices so that the slab in practical buildingconstruction is incapable of being eiiciently supported by conventionalclips. I have discovered that in order to obtain an eucient slab of thecharacter stated for the purposes of sound absorbing proclivities it isnecessary to bind or surround the slab edges with a metallicreinforcing, thereby to hold the slab construction together and affordconvenient means whereby unskilled labor may support the slab withrespect to plasterers channels.

I have also discovered two formulas by which A efficient slabs for thepurposes desired may be effected. A description will be given at thistime v of a pre-cast slab made under my preferred form of construction.Inorder to obtain a porous slab of sound proofing characteristics it isnecessary to have as part thereof a multiplicity of interstices. Inpractice good results have been obtained by employing in my compositionfor manufacture of the slab under construction the followingingredients:

Diatomaceous earth 64 Powdered asbestos 10 Calcium sulphate 25 Powderedglue, diluted with water 1 In practice I have discovered that it issometimes desirable in order to provide a porous condition of slab touse a quantity of granulated wax or soap with the mixture aboveenumerated. After a slab is formed the same is introduced to a processof heating whereby substantially all of the wax or soap will melt, thusleaving the spaces or cavities for sound absorption purposes.

A slab molded as above described is very ligh in texture, porous incharacter, and profuse in interstices, and therefore it is difficult toship the same from'a central plant to place of erection. Therefore, Iprovide each slab as manufactured with an exterior rim or band I0 ofmetal. Obviously this band follows the contour of the slab, which isdesignated II, and is of angular -formation as shown in cross-section inFig. 4. Each frame 'I Il is'provided with inwardly directed, hori-Zontal flanged portions I 2 upon which are adapted to rest extensions I3of cross bars I4. 'I'he horizontal flanged portions I2 of the frame Illhave struck out and bent upwardly therefrom lugs I5 which are caused toengage over the extensions I3 of the cross bars I4, thereby to interlockthe cross bars with respect to the frame I Il. 'I'he above descriptionhas been restricted to the horizontal portions I2 of the frame I0. Thevertical portions I5 of the frame lil have struck out therefrom lugs-I'I, see Fig. 4, which are arranged to engage around the pendant endpieces I8 of the cross bars I!! to interlock the cross bars with respectto the frame I0. In practice it may be desirable to apply in suitablemanner, as by an adhesive, a backing of felt I9. The tendency of thelayer of felt I9 is to absorb and deaden sound emanating over a givenarea.

Heretofore precast slabshave been attached with respect to furringchannels or wooden strips anchored with respect to ceilings or walls. Asat present erected these precast slabs are not efficiently sound proofin character and are relatively speal'zing non-porous, being hard andmore or less brittle in texture. It has been found that conventionalclips answer the purpose of attaching such slabs with respect to suchsupports. No attempt has been made heretofore to suspend porous metalbound slabs from plasterers channels. According to the present inventionI lnd that such attachment may be expeditiously made by unskilled laboras shown in Fig. 5, in which the reference numeral 20 represents aplasterers channel suspended in any desired manner in a buildingstructure supported by which, and arranged at right angles thereto andin a plane therebelow, is a plasterers channel 2I of lighter structurethan the plasterers channel 20. practice I make use of a wire clip 22one end of which is hooked over the top of the plasterers channel 20 andthe other end of which supports the plasterers channel 2l. To the lowerplasterers channel 2l I connect the slabs by substantially U-shapedclips 22 one leg of which is Y bent over the channel ZI and the other ofwhich engages the slab between its two major surfaces passing through aslot 23 in the frame I0.

A slab of the character stated may be eciently manufactured of theingredients in the proportions above enumerated. As an alternativestructure I may employ the following ingredients:

Chloride of calcium 2 Magnesite- 3 Cork 3 Wood fibre (as granulatedwood) 15 Slabs manufactured in accordance with the above describedmethods can be made to imitate Travartine or the like for ornamentalpurposes, and yet said slabs be possessedv of sound n titious slab maybe eliminated and felt employed both between the frame and back of thegrillage. In such case the fibrous material may be painted to matchother surfaces. The joints between the adjacent members are covered withmolding braiding, but the joint or joints are tapered so as to provide aflat surface in large areas'. In the event that felt alone is used thefront and back layers are glued or pasted together, thus to envelopentirely the wire grillage.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination a plasterers channel of relatively heavy structure, aplasterers channel of relatively light structure arranged at rightangles to the first mentioned plasterers channel and supported thereby,a precast slab suspended from said relatively light plasterers channel,a metal rim encasing said slab, and an arm co-operatively arrangedbetween said relatively light plasterers channel and said rim forconnecting said slab to said light plasterers channel.

2. In combination a plasterers channel of relatively heavy structure, aplasterers channel of relatively light structure arranged at rightangles to the rst mentioned plasterers channel and supported thereby, aprecast slab suspended from said relatively light plasterers channel, ametal rim encasing said slab, said rim being slotted to receive theterminals of a supporting arm, and an arm cooperatively arranged betweensaid relatively light plasterers channel and said rim for the support ofsaid slab.

3. A precast ceiling slab of cementitious material comprising a memberconfined by a metal marginal support, a layer of felt adhesively securedto the upper face of said slab, and reinforcing rods embedded in saidslab, said rods being arranged at right angles with respect to oneanother, the terminals of said rods being first bent upwardly at aninclination, thence horizontally, and finally downwardly in a verticalmanner.

4. A felt slabconfined by a metal, marginal support, and reinforcingrods embedded in said felt slab, said rods being arranged at rightangles with respect to one another, the terminals of said rods beingilrst bent upwardly at an inclination, thence horizontally, and finallydownwardly in a vertical manner.

5. A surfacing unit of greater length and breadth than thicknesscomprising a continuous metallic frame and a fill of cementitiousmaterial lying within said frame, said frame providing a form definingthe marginal edges of said cementitious material, and comprising meansproviding a seat for means suspending said unit from a support.

6. A surfacing unit comprising a relatively frangible cementitiousmaterial, interlocked internal and marginal re-enforcement of relativelyrigid infrangible material, said marginal re-enforcement extending fromone major surface to the other major surface of said unit and forming acontinuous band around said unit, and a resilient iiexible material onone major surface of said cementitious material.

7. A preformed ceiling slab comprising a soundpenetrable cementitiousbody, a metal marginal supporting edge on said body, and a layer of feltsecured to the upper face of said body.

FREDERICK M. VENZIE.

